More Iraqis flee as figure tops four million: UNHCR

[Barrett808]

Source: AFP

GENEVA (AFP) - More than four million Iraqis have fled their homes because of sectarian violence, the largest population movement in the Middle East since Palestinians left the new state of Israel, the United Nations refugee agency said on Tuesday.

"An estimated 4.2 million Iraqis have been uprooted from their homes, with the monthly rate of displacement climbing to over 60,000 people compared to 50,000 previously," UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) spokeswoman Jennifer Pagonis told journalists.

More than two million Iraqis are displaced within their own country, with around half being uprooted following the February 2006 Samarra bombings, seen as the catalyst for the latest wave of sectarian conflict, the UNHCR said.

"Many are barely surviving in makeshift camps, inaccessible to aid workers for security reasons," Pagonis warned.

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20070828/wl_mideast_afp/iraqunrestrefugees

[BridgeTheGap]

1. I guess once every one is gone it really will be

"mission accomplished" - no worries about who'll get the oil proceeds, no pesky insurgency, no Shiite-Sunni rivalry...did they plan it this way?

[rodeodance]

2. more data for the WH/patraeus report??

NOT

[agincourt]

3. Kick

Enough of the "good things, surge is working" shit. Four million displaced in a country of 20 million? This group in power should be flayed.

[Barrett808]

4. This is the surest measure of the appalling scale of the catastrophe

I bring this up with the occasional war supporter I run into -- they say it's still worth it!

[Hawkowl]

5. One out of six

4,000,000 people out of a pre war total of 24,000,000. About 17%. A complete disaster.